Hospital's Rose Vial Part of the Tournament of Roses Parade

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Jill Chadwick

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When millions of people worldwide tune into the Tournament of Roses Parade on the Monday after New year’s day, The University of Kansas Hospital will be a small part of an enormously important message.

The Donate Life Rose Parade Float, The Never Ending Story, will contain a “Dedication Garden” filling the float with thousands of roses, each placed in a vial carrying a special message about the importance of organ donation.

This year, as in the past, Bob Page, president and chief executive officer of The University of Kansas Hospital, signed his vial and placed his message for the float.

Page said the hospital has grown to be a national leader in transplants, both in volume and outcomes, only because of the generous organ donors throughout the Midwest. He says the hospital is grateful for their life saving gifts and hopes their donation provides motivation for others to be organ donors.

The Rose Parade has a tradition of moving to a Monday event when New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday.